distrowatch comment: "Ubuntu Breezy Badger - is it too dumbed down? "

[Derek Broughton]

Scott wrote:

> Eric Dunbar wrote:
>> On 12/23/05, Scott <angrykeyboarder at angrykeyboarder.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> >> My point still stands. It should be part of the default installation.
>>> >
>>> > We understand that from your emails to the list, but we have been
>>> > taking and continue to take a different approach.
>>>
>>> I know. It's called the "we know what's good for users and they don't"
>>> approach.
>>>
>>> Not to worry, you're not alone. There are developers of all manner of
>>> operating systems, GUIs, programs and whatnot, who use the same
>>> approach.
>> 
>> Every developer HAS TO USE the "we know what's good for users and they
>> don't" approach.
> 
> How odd.
>> 
>> WITHOUT IT, YOU CANNOT WRITE SOFTWARE FOR OTHERS!!!
> 
> And why not?

That's not a fair question - because Eric's premise is completely wrong :-)

I've been "writing software for others" (and I'm getting really tired of the
shouting) for 30 years, and while I would agree that it's pretty important
for the developer to have a good feeling that he or she _does_ know what's
good for users, I assure you that if you take the position that users
_don't_ know what's good for them you won't get any repeat business (and I
reject any implication that Ubuntu/Debian developers in general take that
attitude, anyway).
-- 
derek